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'Manic Aggression' and 11 more reasons Paul O'Connell will be a devastating loss to Irish rugby

He scared everyone, he put the fear of God in to them, but international locks will sleep a little easier come November.

THERE YOU HAVE it. Paul O’Connell – the man, the legend, the force of nature – will call time on his international career once Ireland run out of World Cup fixtures to play this autumn.

The lock’s career was a wall-to-wall display of exemplary commitment to his team and his craft on and off the field. However, if his Player of the Tournament award after this year’s Six Nations win is not enough evidence of how much Ireland will miss his presence, here’s a few more things we’ll miss when he starts togging out alongside Steffon Armitage, Leigh Halfpenny and Matt Giteau.

He always sets the tone, like this try to get us off to a flier on the Six Nations’ most thrilling day

RBS 6 Nations / YouTube

A set-piece without him will take forever to get used to

Ireland's Paul O'Connell 1/3/2015

Anybody would be ready to run through another brick wall after one of these almighty slaps on the back

calf pat

He never lets his feathers get ruffled

RBS 6 Nations / YouTube

(Well, maybe sometimes) when he does it’s a damn scary sight

Conor Ryan / YouTube

He’s getting better with age

POC RUN OL

POC never knows when he’s down

MottiRugby / YouTube

He always demands more of everyone involved

Even when the rest of us think the job was done quite well.

mc7f7

Nobody more than himself

The 35-year-old delivered this monstrous tackle and drive in the 76th minute of a Test match.

The Weekly Haka / YouTube

That’s why the team-talks are so damn epic

Paul O'Connell during the warm up Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

‘Did you scare anyone?’

Mark Conroy / YouTube

 In The42′s dreams, his last home Six Nations fixture ended with him romping all the way under the posts after this charge-down

POC BLOCK

He’ll just have to come up with some other incredible typically-leading-by-example way to sign off.

Thanks Paulie. Bon Chance.

A tribute to Munster legend Paul O’Connell in 38 epic pictures

7 things Paul O’Connell should know before he goes to Toulon

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10 Comments
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    Mute frank mullen
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    Jun 2nd 2015, 5:26 PM

    Legend !!

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    Mute Billy Keenan
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    Jun 2nd 2015, 5:37 PM

    Is he retiring from international rugby after the World Cup ?

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    Mute reg gordon
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    Jun 2nd 2015, 6:18 PM

    Yup

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    Mute Bob Doran
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    Jun 2nd 2015, 8:24 PM

    2 years ago after his back gave out I watched his come back for young Munster ..walked away that day thinking Big Paulie is done. .So Slow & average. .Well We All Know That’s Not How POC. Head Work’s. AN Insperational. Human being

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Jun 2nd 2015, 8:11 PM

    We’ll be lucky to see his like again.

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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Jun 2nd 2015, 7:23 PM

    No!!! I can’t bring myself to read the articles!!
    :( would he not stay another year and bring home the hat-trick of 6nations!!!! :(

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    Mute Dead Ball Browne
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    Jun 2nd 2015, 10:00 PM

    We were lucky to see his likes…

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    Mute Maire Ui Riain
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    Jun 2nd 2015, 11:57 PM

    Love Paul. I will miss him terribly in the Munster red and Ireland green, but Toulon……of all teams….they are killing rugby……

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    Mute Eoghan O'Sullivan
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    Jun 3rd 2015, 12:36 AM

    As much as I love the man, as long as Irish teams still play in the Champions cup I hope He never wins another one.

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    Mute Cian Walker
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    Jun 3rd 2015, 7:42 AM

    Toner is coming on leaps and bounds but will he be partnered by Tuohy?

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